Les fréres Francoeur | Summer festival of old music

ABOUT THE CONCERT

The surname “Francœur” is indelibly inscribed in history by several remarkable personalities of musical life. The concert, held in the Prague Castle’s Lobkowicz Palace (which is said to offer the most beautiful view of the Prague skyline), will pay tribute to two of the Francœurs, in particular: Louis and François. While Louis’s work remains true to the French style, François’s compositions draw on the Italian musical tradition. Nevertheless, the music of both brothers is distinguished by its melodic depth, sparkling virtuosity and highly imaginative polyphonic effects. One could even trace François’s connection with Bohemia – in 1723, he visited Prague on the occasion of the coronation of Charles VI.

This recital of two of the most promising musicians of the new generation of “historically informed interpretation of early music” offers not only virtuosity, but also melancholy, grace and elegance. Accompanied by the French-American musician Justin Taylor on harpsichord, the French violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte plays a violin made by Carlo Bergonzi in 1773.

Artists

Théotime Langlois de Swarte: Baroque violin

Justin Taylor: harpsichord

Programme

François Francœur (1698–1787)
Gavotte pour les Muses et les Plaisirs
Air pour les guerriers
Le théâtre s’obscurcit & Le théâtre s’éclaire
Premier & Second Airs
Sonate no. 10 en sol majeur
Sonate no. 6 en sol mineur

Louis Francœur (1692–1745)
Sonate no. 6 en si mineur
Sonate no. 4 en mi mineur

Arcangelo Corelli (1653–1713)
La Follia

Joseph-Nicolas-Pancrace Royer (1703–1755)
La Marche des Scythes

Jean-Jacques-Baptiste Anet (1676–1755)
Sonate no. 11 en do mineur